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We Tried Tesla’s ‘Full Self Driving’. what happened here

November 19, 2021
Henry

I spent my mornings using the back seat of the Model 3 until now “Full self-driving,” system called tesla change the world By enabling safe and reliable autonomous vehicles. I’ve seen the software nearly crash into a construction site, try to convert to a stalled truck, and try to drive down the wrong side of the road. Angry drivers sounded the horn as the system hesitated, sometimes right in the middle of an intersection. (We had an attentive human driver behind the wheel during all of our tests, to take full control when necessary.)

The Model 3’s “full self-driving” required a lot of human intervention to protect us and everyone else on the road. Sometimes this meant tapping the brakes to shut down the software so it wouldn’t try to drive around a car in front of us. We quickly jerked the wheel to avoid an accident the second time around. (Tesla tells drivers to pay consistent attention to the road and be prepared to act promptly.)

I hoped the car wouldn’t make any more silly mistakes. The kids ended up crossing what felt like an eternity. I breathed out

We were clear to make our turn. The car was initially very hesitant, but then I saw a cyclist coming from our left. we waited.

Once the cyclist passed the intersection, the car pulled over and turned smoothly.

I’ve watched over a hundred videos in the past year Tesla owners are using “full self-driving” technology, and I’ve talked to many of them about their experiences.

“Full Self-Driving” is a $10,000 driver-assistance feature offered by Tesla. While the all-new Tesla is capable of using “full self-driving” software, buyers will have to opt for costly additions to use this feature. The software is still in beta and is currently only available to a select group of Tesla owners, although CEO Elon Musk has claimed that a wider rollout is imminent. Musk has promised that “full self-driving” will be fully capable of getting the car to its destination in the near future.

But it doesn’t do that. far from it.

Tesla owners have described the technology as impressive but also flawed. One moment it is driving perfectly, the next moment it almost collides with something.

Jason Tallman, a Tesla owner, documents his “complete self-driving” trips youtube, offered me to experience it firsthand.

We asked Jason to meet us on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. It is an urban artery that funnels thousands of cars, trucks, cyclists and pedestrians into Manhattan. This can be a challenge even for experienced human drivers.

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Driving in the city is chaotic, with red lights and pedestrian vehicles plying on almost every block. It’s far from the suburban neighborhoods and predictable highways around Tesla’s California offices, or the wide streets of Arizona, where Alphabet’s Waymo is located. Operates fully autonomous vehicle,
GM’s self-driving company, Cruise, recently completed its first fully autonomous ride in San Francisco. but they were conducted after 11 pm, when traffic is light and there are few pedestrians or cyclists present.

Brooklyn gave us a chance to see just how close Tesla’s autonomous driving software was to replacing human drivers. It’s the kind of place humans drive because they have to, not the kind of place chosen by a corporate headquarters. This is where self-driving cars can have the biggest impact.

One time we were walking down the right alley of Flatbush. Next appeared a construction site. The car continued at full speed towards a row of metal fences.

I felt like deja vu missed a video In which a Tesla owner slammed on the brakes after his car crashed at a construction site.

But this time I was sitting in the back seat. I instinctively threw my right hand up like a Heisman trophy, as if to protect myself in a collision.

It was a moment I wanted “full self-driving” to be quick to change lanes on. In other respects, I wanted it to calm down on its aggressive turn.

“Full self-driving” sometimes makes jerky turns. The wheel starts to spin, but then turns back before turning back to its intended direction. Staggered turns generally don’t seem bothersome on broad suburban curves, but in a dense city built before rough cars, it’s uncomfortable.

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There’s also braking, which can feel random. At one point a car came close to finishing us from behind after applying the brakes which startled me. Bullying was common. I never felt like I knew what “full self-driving” would do next. Saying “full self-driving” to navigate Brooklyn felt like asking a student driver to take a road test they weren’t ready for yet.

What “full self-driving” could do well was impressive, but the experience was ultimately discouraging. I can’t imagine using “full self-driving” regularly in a city. I noticed that I was reluctant to ever look down at the Model 3’s dashboard as if to check our speed, because I didn’t want to take my eyes off the road.

Tesla owners regularly tell me how Autopilot, the highway-focused predecessor to “full self-driving,” makes their trips less stressful. They reach the destination feeling less tired. Some people have told me that they are more likely to go on long road trips because of the autopilot.

But “full self-driving” felt like the reverse. I felt that I needed to be constantly on guard to prevent the car from doing anything wrong.

Ultimately, seeing “full self-driving” in Brooklyn reminded me of the importance of the finer points of driving, which is hard for a car powered by artificial intelligence. Things like pulling a bit into an intersection on a narrow road to turn left, so there’s room for traffic behind you to turn. “Full self-driving” just sat in place as the frustrated drivers behind us honked.

For now, “full self-driving” sounds closer to a party trick that’s a must-have feature to show off to friends.

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